H&M and the Concept of Fast Fashion
February 25, 2015 by admin · Leave a Comment
By Phin Upham
H&M has been growing in popularity all across America, but it’s a Swedish brand. Today, the company employs more than 100,000 people all over the world, and it has 3,500 stores spread across 55 countries.
It was opened in 1947, after Erling Persson took a trip to the United States. Either our fashions were behind the times or too expensive, because Persson got the idea to offer affordable high-fashion. He began with a shop called “Hennes,”which means “for her” in Swedish, and sold women’s clothing only.
Upon acquiring the hunting apparel company “Mauritz Widforss,” H&M began its earliest iteration. The hunting apparel company brought men’s clothing to the store, and the company officially changes its name in 1998. Signified ritualistically with the purchase of a domain name.
The company did not pioneer fast-fashion, but it has shown to be quite adept at it. The practice involves fashion that moves quickly from catwalk to consumer, and it’s typically fashion made cheaply. This is why H&M offers such bargain boutique prices with clothing that feels new. H&M’s design team in Sweden controls all aspects of production. They outsource most of their work, but the planning and sale of merchandise is handled primarily by the company itself.
H&M also offers accessories, including jewelry and purses, in addition to its clothing line. It also announced plans to sell furniture in its stores as of 2009, but none of the H&M Home stores are available in America. The closes, should one feel so inclined, would involve a trip to Mexico.
About the Author: Phin Upham is an investor at a family office/ hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Phin Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media and Telecom group. You may contact Phin on his Phin Upham website or Twitter page.
Living a Rich Life
February 5, 2015 by admin · Leave a Comment
By Phin Upham
When people think of the rich lifestyle, they may perceive large homes or fancy cars. They may see vacations to places they’d like to visit, or large feasts full of their favorite foods. That’s a lavish lifestyle. Living rich, or wealthy, isn’t like that. Although there are perks like the nice house and car, living wealthy requires extreme discipline.
What Does it Mean to Live Rich?
Has it occurred to you that living a rich life means striving for a richer experience of life? Do the wealthy experience life any differently than you do? Can they somehow enjoy a sunny Saturday more than you do? In some ways, they can create exciting situations and take vacations that bring them to interesting places, but both of you have the capacity to explore your world and find beauty within it. Living richly means holding onto that beauty. Having money just offers different circumstances with which to experience that same beauty.
In the Jewish faith, success is not measured by wealth. Wealth is not viewed as evil, but it does not define you. What defines you, and makes you successful, is the character you develop. Life is a summation of our trials and tribulations. Money can’t buy you the experience of life.
Final Thoughts
Examine your own relationship to wealth. It’s easy to look at the greedy at the top and criticize their misdeeds, but complex when you examine your own relationship with wealth. Most people want to provide for themselves, and would love to raise a family. Consider how the accumulation of wealth may touch you.
About the Author: Phin Uphamis an investor at a family office/ hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Phin Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media & Technology group. You may contact Phin on his Phin Upham website or Twitter page.